Nate (A Texas Jacks Novel) (22 page)

“Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe her phone died when she got home and she’s in bed now, not wanting to bother me so late.”

“Would you do me a favor? Would you swing by Charlie’s place really quick, and see if her car is home?” Tucker asks Naomi.

“No, don’t have her do that. It’s way too late for her to be out alone,” I admonish Tucker. He just shakes his head at me.

Covering the mouth piece, he says, “It’s okay, she was about to suggest it herself. She’s a bit worried, and said this doesn’t seem like Charlie at all.” Then he goes back to his conversation.

“Well, nothing we can do until we hear back from Halley, anyway,” Holt states.

“I’m going over there myself, even if I have to pound the door down, and her neighbors call the police. I want to make sure she’s okay.” I stalk down to my room and grab my coat, truck keys, and a baseball cap. I turn to leave the room when all of a sudden Tucker is standing there, leaning against the door frame.

“Why don’t you wait until one of the girls’ calls us back?”

“If this were Naomi, would you sit around and just wait for a call?” I raise my brows at him.

He shakes his head. “I would want answers, too. Though, I bet you’re rattled for no good reason. Calm down and wait it out a few more minutes.”

“I’m headed to Charlie’s. You can come or you can stay, but I’m leaving in two minutes.” I say, as I shoulder past him, and head back down the hall to the living room. “Any word from Halley?” I ask Holt.

“She says Charlie left her parents around 10 pm. But—there was a problem, which left her stranded on the side of the freeway.” I start to panic before Tucker clamps his hand down on my right shoulder. “She’s fine, Nate. She was able to get help. and now she’s on her way home. She should be there soon.”

“Thank Halley for me, will you? I’m going to make sure she’s okay with my own eyes. Are you guys coming, or staying?” I call over my shoulder as I walk towards the front door. “I’m sure Naomi and Halley will be there, too.” I can’t help feeling guilty for not going with her to Sacramento. She hasn’t asked me to these dinners, directly, but she’s hinted around a lot that I should come. If I had gone, then she wouldn’t have been stranded on the side of the road, late at night, all alone. I feel like the biggest jerk at the moment.

I slam the door on my way out, ticked at myself for not being better to her. I know her car isn’t in the best shape. I should have taken her there myself, in the truck. Shaking my head at myself, I unlock the door and climb into the cab of my Ford. Just as I start the engine, there’s a knock at the passenger side window. Both Holt and Tucker are standing there. I press the unlock button, and they hop in.

“You won’t do her any good if you go over there like a maniac. She didn’t get hurt, or robbed, or anything else. Her car broke down, and she’s fine. Just remember that.” Holt says, though it’s not at all helpful in lulling me into a sense of peace.

“Look, she was a woman traveling late at night on a dark highway, in a car that’s not the greatest. I should have taken her myself. And another thing—even if she wasn’t in a bad accident or other trouble, it doesn’t mean I won’t stop worrying over her wellbeing.” I shake my head in annoyance at the guys, but mainly mad at myself.
They just don’t get it.

“You may think we don’t understand, but we do. We may not be in committed relationships, and neither are you— if I have to remind you, but we would be worried if it were one of our girls, too.” Tucker says quietly from the back of the cab.

“You sure have a funny way of showing it.” I huff out, even more pissed off at them.

Ten minutes later, we pull into Charlie’s apartment complex. I find a spot, close enough to her apartment, and then jog over to where I see Halley and Naomi. “No word yet?” I’m anxious for any bit of information at this point.

“Not yet, but I’m sure she’s fine, and we all over reacted. She’s probably going to be more upset when she sees all of us when she gets here.” Halley tells us.

“Tough. She’ll just have to deal with having overprotective friends, and if she—”

I start to go off, but my words take a flying leap. At this very moment, I see a CHP cruiser pull into the lot, and making its way towards us. We all stand here, waiting patiently, when really, I just want to rip the back door open and hug her tightly to me.

The car stops in front of where we’re all standing, before an officer gets out. He eyes each of us, and then looks back at Charlie, who’s sitting in the back seat of the squad car like a common criminal. She looks all wrong sitting there.

“Are you friends of the young lady I just brought home?” he calmly asks the group as a whole.

“Yes. I’m Charlie’s good friend, Halley.” She reaches out and shakes his hand. “Thank you for bringing her home. Her boyfriend,” she nods at me, “was starting to worry. We called her parents in Sacramento when they told us she had car issues.”

“Is she okay?” Naomi asks him quietly.

“Why don’t you ask her?” he smiles at us, then let’s Charlie out of the back seat. Before anyone can do, or say anything, I’m there faster than a heart can beat, hugging her with all of my strength.

She snuggles into my chest, and it feels like the weight of the world has been lifted off both of our shoulders in that moment. I kiss the top of her head, breathing in her scent. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I should have gone with you tonight to your parents’ house. Are you okay?” I ask, as I gently pull her slightly away from my chest, so I can see her pretty face.

“I am now.” She smiles up at me, but I can see she’s been crying. and she looks worn out. She pulls away and looks at our friends. “What are you all doing here?”

“We heard you had car problems from your mom. We were worried, and called the girls to see if you had checked in when you missed your phone call with Nate.” Holt supplies her with the answer she’s searching for.

“I’m so sorry you all were dragged into this!” She ducks her head in embarrassment. I pull her back to me, hugging her around her shoulders.

“Don’t even worry about it. This is what good friends do, right?” I wink at her. She shakes her head, and then lowers it against me.

“Thank you for the rescue, and the ride home.” She tells the officer.

“It was my pleasure, and I’m glad it all ended well. It’s good you have a nice group of good friends to come home to.” He reaches into his car before handing over his card. “Here’s my number, in case you need any further assistance. Don’t forget to call the tow company tomorrow about your vehicle.” He waves to the rest of us, and tells us to have a safe night, before pulling back out of the lot.

“Since you’re all here, you may as well come in. I know you must be patiently awaiting the tale of my adventure.” Charlie says, just as a big yawn over takes her breath.

“It’s well after midnight now. I think we can leave it alone until tomorrow.” I eye the rest of the group, but Charlie is shaking her head in protest.

“It’s all right. Let’s go in and get it over with. I’m so tired, I could sleep for days! I’ll be in no shape to reminisce over my little journey tomorrow, either.”

I gently tug Charlie’s hand to pull her back for a moment, while the others climb the stairs to her apartment. I know they’ll let themselves in, seeing as how the other girls’ have a key.

“Charlie—” I start, but she stops the apology before it can form on my lips, with her index finger.

“Nate,” she looks up at me with those beautiful eyes, and they get me every time. I’m a goner, and I don’t even know how that happened. I can’t believe I let it happen, but for now, I don’t care. I just care that she’s safe and I can hold her in my arms before I have to go home. “It’s enough that you’re even here. Thank you.” She whispers the words, as she goes up on her toes, and I lean down the rest of the way to complete the kiss she’s trying to bestow upon me. I relish her sweet kiss, wrapping my arms around her so I can feel her body pressed against mine. All too soon she pulls away and reaches for my hand to lead me up to the rest of the gang.

We’re all piled into her living room as she explains about her tire blowing out on the freeway in the worst stretch of it, and being scared out of her mind all the while. Her phone battery was dead, hence why she didn’t call me, or anyone else for that matter. She had to use the officer’s phone to call her parents. I’m just grateful nothing major happened, and she was able to use an emergency phone to call for help.

Still, I should have been there. I get up and start to pace a little bit, while the others talk to Charlie for a few minutes more, before they all head home. I feel a hand on my arm, halting my next steps. I look up to see Holt and Halley watching me.

“It’s not your fault, you know. You can stop blaming yourself. Charlie certainly doesn’t blame you, either. We’re headed out now. See you in the morning.” He slaps my back while Halley squeezes my arm, then they walk out the door together. A few moments later, Naomi and Tucker leave, as well, officially leaving me alone with Charlie. That doesn’t happen too often, and sometimes it feels a bit awkward to not have a bunch of others around.

I’m still facing the door, thinking of what to say to her when I feel her wrap her arms around my waist. She leans her head against my back and I feel my body lose a little bit of the fight it had pulsing within me. I lay one hand over hers, and give it a little squeeze, relishing this moment in her arms. It doesn’t happen often, so I take it whenever she gifts me with it.

“You’re going to worry yourself to death. Stop,” she gently commands. “You’re not to blame. Who could have predicted my car would have caused me such havoc? It was bound to happen, and I’m no worse for wear and in one piece. No bad accident.” She squeezes my middle.

“I’m still going with you next time, and we won’t be driving your car.” I slightly shake my head at her. “I don’t want to hear any lip about it, either.” I firmly close any more discussion on the matter at hand. “Now, we should discuss you getting a backup phone, and another charger. I’m not pleased that you were stranded, without a way to reach me, or your parents, unless you had to leave the safety of your car. But that’s a discussion for another time. It’s one in the morning, and we’re both shot. You need to go to sleep, little one, and I need to head out. Six comes too early.” I spin around, knocking her off balance. She presses into me close, but I notice she doesn’t say anything else about the car, dinner, or a new phone.

“I was so scared, with a lot running through my head—however, I remember thinking a lot about not being able to let you know what had happened. It’s late, and I know you’re exhausted, but it means a lot to me that you care enough to come over here in the middle of the night to check on me.”

I kiss the top of her head, but don’t say anything more. There’s nothing left to say. I would do it again, in a heartbeat. Any guy would for their friends, or their best ‘exclusive’ friend.

And here’s one perfect reason why I stay away from attachments. Tonight, she could have been seriously harmed, had there actually been a severe accident, with the possibility of death. Am I overthinking this?
Yes
. But, with my experience, you can never be too safe, and if you aren’t prepared, that’s when life takes a bite out of you. She has me tied up in knots, and is forcing my possessive urge to take care of her. Let’s not forget I felt the need to drive her to Sacramento the next time around and voluntarily agreed to meet her family.
Am I ready to take this relationship, as it is, that far?
That’s something I need to ponder on, later—
much later.

Pushing those thoughts to the side, I focus on what we have, right now—not what the future holds. “Give me a kiss so I can leave, or you’ll end up with an overnight guest. I’m a terrible bed hog, too.” She giggles, but does as she’s told, and gives me a kiss.

“Who’s to say you wouldn’t end up on the couch?” she taunts me.

“Hey, I didn’t imply you could sleep in the bed, too.” I say, in mock outrage. “The couch seems good enough to me. I think you’ll be just fine out here.”

She pinches my waistline, shaking her head. Though, I see her trying not to crack a smile. “If it’s good enough for me, then it’s far better for your hulking size.”

“Smart aleck.” I snatch her up and toss her on the couch. “See? The couch
is
perfect for a little runt, such as yourself!” We’re both laughing, and I decide to push my luck by tickling her. She tries to get away from me, as she’s laughing pretty hard now at this point, but I keep at her for a tad longer before letting her up.

“That’s it! You broke the sleep over rule.” She says, even though she’s trying to be serious, while pushing herself up into a seated position.

“I hate to break it to you, little one, but I don’t play by the rules.” I wiggle my brows at her. “Haven’t you learned that yet?” I tease her.

“Don’t you have a bed to find?” She’s grinning at me.

“You wound me!” I give her my best sorrowful look. “Trying to kick your man out after he was so worried about you? I see how it is.”

She leans over and shoves me back onto the couch, then props her elbows up on my chest, holding up her chin. “So, cowboy. What’s it going to be?”

I intently stare into her eyes, searching her face, before I make up my mind, as I know this is not a good idea—
for the time being
. “As much as I want to see your hair looking like a ratted mess when you wake,” I wink at her, “I think it’s best I head home.” She doesn’t look sad or put out by my answer. We both knew what the final answer would be. I can see it in her eyes, and neither one of us is ready to go there, just yet.

She pushes off of me, and then reaches down and pulls me up and off the couch. I hug her one last time, needing the contact of our two bodies, even if I know being more intimate isn’t where this is headed, before I force myself to leave. I give her a final kiss on her forehead, and then head out—stopping on the porch until I hear the lock click, before finding my way back to my truck.

I’m not sure what I’m doing, when it comes to pursuing a deeper relationship with Charlie, but I might need to get my priorities straight, sooner rather than later, I deduce before I point my truck towards home.